CNF Files

These are binary files most of which are in the CTRL Directory and are maintained by SCFG.

Auto-backup

SCFG features an auto-backup system controlled with the SCFG-b# command-line option to specify the backup level. -b5 is the default, providing for 5 backups of each file modified. -b0 disables the auto-backup feature.

CNF files ending with .0.cnf represent the most recent backup of the .cnf file, .1.cnf the next to most recent backup, etc.

The oldest backup files (e.g. *.5.cnf when the backup level is 5) are automatically removed (deleted).

Individual files

The various CNF files are:

chat.cnf: This contains the Chat Features settings from SCFG specifically the Guru, Multinode chat actions and channels, and external sysop pages. This is unused on most BBSs and may be removed from or integrated with the ircd in version 4.

node.cnf: Located in the NODE Directories, and configured via the Nodes menu, it is expected that only the node config which corresponds to the FirstNode value (usually 1) in sbbs.ini is actually used, but there may be times with some tools that a different node config file is used. Because of this, it is recommended that a sysop ensure that all node.cnf files for the same instance are configured identically.

Development Notes

These files were originally a text-based configuration but were converted to binary for efficiency reasons which no longer apply. For version 4, these files will be converted to a text format, most likely INI Files.

The multiple node.cnf files need to be replaced by a single file which configures all the nodes for a specific instance of Synchronet. Currently, this means supporting the <base>.<host|os>.<ext> format because the assumption that the only reason to run multiple instances is that there are multiple systems is currently baked in.